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Ireland has won the Landsdowne Cup series 2-1 after holding off the Wallabies in a dramatic finish.

Ireland took out the third game of the series in Sydney 20-16 — in a game that went right down to the wire.

The Wallabies were left seething at full time when the TMO refused to award a clear penalty for a deliberate knock on from an Irish star — right at the moment the Wallabies appeared to be on the verge of a famous last-gasp win.

A ground-record 44,085 fans packed into Allianz Stadium on Saturday night to see the reigning European champions hold off the Wallabies in a gripping series finale laced with drama and controversy.

The Wallabies were sensationally dudded by a controversial TMO decision after the 80-minute siren.

Wallabies captain David Pocock was left incredulous when the referee told him the game was over with Ireland ahead 20-16.

The incredible series — which has seen Ireland win the Landsdowne Cup 2-1 — ended in absolute shambles when the TMO failed to make a decision that Irish player Jacob Stockdale had deliberately stuck out his hand to stop Bernard Foley passing to three un-marked Wallabies players on the wing.

The incredible finish saw the Wallabies desperately attacking in the 81st minute, needing a try to snatch a dramatic win.

They appeared to be on the verge of a famous win when Foley took the play to the right wing and created a four-on two for the Wallabies' right edge.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said he had to spend extra time in the coaches box to try and calm down before his post-match interviews — such was his disappointment at the referee decisions.

"I don't understand it sometimes," he told Network 10.

"Some things didn't go for us. You need a few things to go for you in a game.

"It could have gone either way. It was pretty tight. I really feel for our supporters who came out here tonight.

"It was an electric atmosphere and I promise you we'll be back for the next (Bledisloe Cup) series against New Zealand in better shape and we'll be trying our best to make them proud."

Cheika was visibly furious throughout the match, as French referee Pascal Gauzere made a series of bewildering decisions against the home side, allowing Jonny Sexton to ultimately boot the Irish to a famous victory through five penalty goals.

Flanker and man of the match CJ Stander scored Ireland's only try in the 45th minute, before winger Marika Koroibete replied with Australia's lone five-pointer shortly after to cut the visitors' lead to a point and set up a grandstand finish.

A late Sexton penalty goal gave the visitors a touch more breathing space but there were hearts in the mouths of every men in green right up until the fulltime whistle. The television match official (TMO) agonised over a possible intervention in Australia's favour in the final minute.

After several minutes, the TMO eventually decided there was inconclusive evidence to penalise winger Jacob Stockdale for a deliberate knockdown that would have given the Wallabies one last attacking chance in front of the posts. Ireland's victory, a week after they levelled the series in Melbourne with their first Test win in Australia in 39 years, consolidated their world No.2 ranking and denied the Wallabies a first three-Test series win since beating the British and Irish Lions in 2002.